Gas Consulting is an Italian company based in Milan who contacted Molecular Products regarding CO2 management using lithium hydroxide and oxygen generators in a military shelter.

Consideration needed to be given to the fact that lithium hydroxide has a vigorous exothermic reaction.

At this stage a detailed specification was requested. The 1,500m3 safe haven shelter was designed for 70 people for seven days. It had an air recirculation rate of 13,500m3 per hour.

Based on the limited information available, the estimated weight of lithium hydroxide required could be as high as 800kg occupying a volume of 1,600 litres.

Molecular Products responded to the enquiry and proactively suggested soda lime as a safer alternative. On a volume for volume basis, we were able to demonstrate that Sofnolime 797 could provide an equivalent performance to lithium hydroxide, but with a lower biohazard risk and price.

The volume of Sofnolime 797 recommended provided an excess of overall capacity if properly managed. The customer was cautioned to balance standing concentration, recirculation rates and residence time of the atmosphere in the absorber cartridge(s).

Molecular Products was able to save the customer time and costs by ruling out several projected combinations.

Based on the technical inputs and support offered by Molecular Products, Gas Consulting is now considering using Sofnolime 797 in other applications, some of which would be much more demanding.